THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
fraught || five hargreeves x reader

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: WE'LL SPLIT INTO GROUPS

Written By: peachyhxlland

°•.☆.•°

You weren't in the best of mental and emotional shape after losing two siblings and a dog you treated like your son all in one day. Their deaths have affected you so much that the others think that you're just dead but still breathing. You've been through hell since Nico's passing (including everyone else in the Russell family). And now you feel like you returned from it after the deaths of Luther, Klaus, and Mr. Pennycrumb.

Since you got attached to Chet, he gets an honorable mention. Honorable mention goes to Jeanie as well because you witnessed her passing away and she had the same facial features as your best friend in the original timeline.

You were all in the lobby, taking a moment of solace. Five had earlier attempted to enter the doors, but Diego stopped him and informed him that nobody could leave through them. Additionally, everyone was warned by Diego and Lila not to ring the bell by the front desk.

After that, Reginald was busy with his journal while Lila suddenly felt a craving for sushi and drew Diego aside for a private discussion. At the stairs, Sloane and Allison were scrubbing Luther's blood off of their hands. Meanwhile, you were around the couches and chairs along with Viktor and Five. In close proximity to Viktor and Five, you were laying down on the couch. In any case, you made the decision not to pay attention to anyone at the moment. Being worn out made it impossible for you to act or feel. You felt completely drained and empty.

Five worriedly watched as you remained still. You had a blank expression on your face and were simply gazing at the ceiling. It appeared as though you were detaching from reality.

Reginald was still glancing at his journal and around the hotel when Five sent a quick glance his way. Shaking his head, he turned to face Viktor. "Nah, it's like the old man said. Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, and three times ain't gonna happen 'cause I'm not a gibbering idiot."

"Well, we can't be sure he killed Klaus or Luther," Viktor replied softly, not loud enough for you to hear.

"You serious? This is his modus operandi. We've seen this before. Have you forgotten how we all came together in the first place?"

Viktor sucked in a deep breath. "Dad's funeral."

Five nodded. "Exactly. He pulled this on you rubes before, and he's doing it again now."

"Come on, Five." Viktor groaned from Five's paranoia.

"No, no, no." Five insisted. "He lost the vote to come through the tunnel, yet here we are."

"Are you really sure that he could kill Luther?"

"I think he could kill Luther, Klaus, and the rest of us without breaking a moral sweat." Five whispered and glanced at Allison. "And what's worse, I think Allison is involved."

Viktor turned his head to look at Allison who was still with Sloane. He scoffed in disbelief. "No. No." Viktor looked back at Five. "No, she... she was with Sloane in the tunnel."

"I'm not talking about Klaus."

Viktor stared at Five for a moment. "Luther?" He questioned and shook his head. "What? No, she would never do that."

"She's been unraveling since we got to this timeline." Five told Viktor as he briefly stared at Allison.

"Yeah, she lost her daughter."

Five looked back at Viktor. "And she killed Harlan."

There was a brief moment of silence among the two brothers. Viktor sighed. "Even if you're right, I can't imagine they're just gonna come clean if we confront them."

Five nodded. "I agree. And it's better not to tell (Y/n) first." He stated. "She may seem like she can't do anything for now, but if she finds out Allison is involved with Dad's schemes, (Y/n) will lose it."

Viktor glanced at you in worry. "You don't think she can kill someone, right? I mean, yeah I can see her kill Dad but Allison? I don't think so."

"She killed a few people by accident before, Viktor." Five reminded as his serious expression remained. "She could do it again, especially when she's not in the right state of mind."

Viktor sighed. "She'll find out eventually, Five. You're gonna have to tell her."

You turned your head and stared at Allison and Sloane when they exchanged a tearful chuckle. Allison glanced at Reginald, who was already focused on her, and you witnessed it. Allison clenched her jaw before her eyes landed on you. When Allison noticed your icy, vacant stare, her breath caught in her throat. Allison feared that you were plotting murder behind those menacing eyes.

You tore your eyes away when you caught a glimpse of Reginald ascending the stairs. Allison stepped away from Sloane and headed to the other set of stairs to face Reginald. After giving you a brief glance, Viktor nudged Five. "I think you should talk to her."

"Allison?" Five asked dumbfoundedly.

"No, you idiot. I meant (Y/n)."

Five cast a glance at you and sighed. "She doesn't talk to anyone after her breakdown a while ago, even to me."

"Then at least try harder. You're not scared, are you?"

Five gave Viktor a long, worried look, tapping his foot in anxiousness. "A little bit." He admitted.

Viktor stared back with an amused expression. "You've dealt with three apocalypses and you're scared of your own girlfriend?"

"I mean you would too if she can snap someone's bones in a heartbeat."

Viktor rolled his eyes. "Just talk to her. I'm sure she won't hurt you."

Five took a deep breath through his nose and then gave up, patting his thighs. "Alright." He stood up and approached you. He was rubbing the back of his neck as you gave him a blank stare and observed him. "Can I sit next to you?" He asked carefully.

You didn't respond to him verbal response and dragged your legs closer to you so that Five could have a space. Five was quietly seated next to you and he stared at you. You went to play around with your necklaces and the watch he gave you in the meanwhile. "I know you're not feeling okay, but I just need to make sure."

You didn't respond, but you tightened your hold on Klaus' dog tag. Five sighed. "Come on, you can talk to me."

Your lips trembled slightly as you shook your head. Discussing the situation would bring you to tears. When you were already numb from the pain a minute ago, bringing it up would make the pain worse.

Five nodded in understanding. "Okay. I won't pressure you. But I'm here, okay? I may not have good words to say at the moment, but I'm always a good listener."

You abruptly tore your stare off the watch and fixed them on him with glistening eyes. "I love you." You spoke in a hoarse voice, as though it were the first time in a long time that you had spoken.

Five's eyes softened as he gently smiled. "I love you too." He leaned forward and placed a kiss on your forehead. "And I'll always will." Five leaned his forehead against yours with your noses brushing at each other.

"Gather up, children." Reginald declared as he walked down the stairs with his journal. Along with the rest, you got to your feet. "Now that we've had a chance to catch our breath, the real work can begin."

"Ah, the myth of the seven bells, eh?" Five questioned as he tucked his hands in his pockets while walking to the center with the others.

Reginald nodded. "Exactly. Somebody's been paying attention."

"Okay, so we find the bells, then what?" Diego asked.

Reginald shook his head. "No, no, no. The bells are just a metaphor for this." You and Five were familiar with the sigil that Reginald displayed to everyone when he opened his journal thanks to Pogo.

"The sigil." You muttered.

"Correct, Number Eight." Reginald praised. "The sigil is the key to the seven bells. Once we find this symbol, we're one step closer to resetting the universe."

"What do we do when we find it?" Sloane asked.

Reginald paused for a while as he glanced at Sloane. "I don't know." He confessed.

Sloane softly gasped in disbelief while Viktor furrowed his eyebrows. "Excuse me? We're here because you said you have a plan."

"I do, up to a point," Reginald answered.

Lila snickered loudly. "Great. So we'll just stay in the hotel forever, staring at the walls and eating bad sushi."

"Finding the sigil is our only way out of here and the best chance we have of resetting the universe." Allison reasoned, siding with Reginald. Reginald nodded at her.

Five turned his head to look at Allison with suspicion. "Funny how you and Dad are on the same page again." He remarked with a slightly annoyed smirk. You turned to face Allison, who was glaring at Five.

Viktor had to break the tension. "Okay, uh, where do we start?" He asked Reginald.

"We'll split into groups," Reginald instructed. "I will go with (Y/n), Allison, and Sloane, Ben, and Five with Viktor."

Five furrowed his eyebrows while Viktor shook his head. "No, we want Allison and (Y/n)." He stated.

"Ben for (Y/n) and Allison." Five added. "We've trained together, so it makes more sense if we take them both. Plus, I don't trust you enough with (Y/n), Reg." He gave a fake smile.

Allison shook her head, opposed to the idea. "Yeah. No, thanks."

You snapped your head at her, tilting your head to the side. "Why not?" You questioned curiously as you crossed your arms. "That seems reasonable. I don't see the issue, sis." After Allison made an effort to patch things up with you, you began to have doubts about her, and you sensed Five and Viktor were thinking the same thing.

When she was unable to come up with a perfect excuse, Allison simply stared at you, Five, and Viktor. Reginald took a brief minute to look at Allison before caving in. "Splendid idea." He exclaimed. "Allison, (Y/n), you go with the Umbrellas. Sparrows, stick together. Everyone, take a different floor. We must find that sigil."

You saw Allison was the first to leave forcing you, Five, and Viktor to follow her. "What about us?" Diego asked Reginald in confusion.

"You're a duo. Nobody wants to listen to your endless bickering." Reginald remarked. "Now, spread out, leave no stone unturned, and meet back here in 30 minutes."

When everyone started to leave, Lila looked at Diego. "Did you hear that?" She excitingly asked. "He called us a duo. I think your father is starting to grow on me."

Ben and Sloane headed towards the elevator side by side. "This is a total waste of time." He complained in annoyance. The two Sparrows stepped inside the elevator as soon as the door opened. Reginald made his way to the elevator with a strut but stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the elevator doors were closing. "I forgot my journal." He quickly excused. "Go on. I'll meet you on five."

The Sparrows were unable to object as the door shut and Reginald took a moment to look at the elevator before turning around and looking at the bell located at the receptionist's desk.